Geelong’s VFL team are looking to stay top of the ladder in this Friday’s clash against Casey, the first curtain raiser of the 2025 season.

The Cats are carrying plenty of momentum after a hard fought win against the Northern Bullants last Saturday, driven by a stunning fourth quarter display from George Stevens and Shaun Mannagh.

The match will kickoff at 3.50pm from GMHBA Stadium, with their AFL counterpart taking on the Melbourne Demons from 7.50pm.

See below for all the details leading up to Friday’s match against Casey.

KEY DETAILS

2025 VFL Season – Round Three

Geelong Cats v Casey Demons

3.50pm AEDT, Friday April 4

GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Last Time We Met

The last time Geelong met Casey was back in round 14 of 2023, where the team fought hard but fell to a 40 point loss against the Demons at GMHBA Stadium.

Despite finding opportunities to put themselves in front, the Cats were unsuccessful in capitalising throughout the match, as Casey gradually pulled away.

Ollie Dempsey shone with a game high 32 disposals along with eight clearances and one goal, along with some intense defensive pressure from Mitch Knevitt against the Demons side, laying 12 tackles.

Current Geelong skipper, Dan Capiron racked up 20 disposals from the centre in an effort to get ahead, with Marcus Herbert assisting strongly with his own 26 disposals out in front.

Team Selection

IN: Jhye Clark, Mitch Duncan, Oli Wiltshire, Kye Annand

OUT: Shaun Mannagh (AFL), Darcy Edmends (Injured), Todd White, Taj Wyburd (Omitted)

Key Player

Jay Polkinghorne

From kicking his first goal five minutes into round one against Sandringham, to slotting the final goal in last round's victory over the Bullants, Jay Polkinghorne knows how to step up when his team needs him.

In the short time Polkinghorne been playing in the VFL, he has shown his impact on the scoreboard in the back-to-back wins to kick off the season, after being drafted with Geelong’s first selection in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft. 

With the Cats heading into a tough contest against Casey this Friday afternoon, Polkinghorne is going to be one player to watch out for.

How To Get Tickets

Geelong’s future stars will be on display live this Friday at 3.50pm, as they look to secure their third straight win in a blockbuster doubleheader against the Demons.

Patrons must hold a relevant ticket for the AFL match to attend the VFL, and are required to move to their allocated seats for the AFL match at the conclusion of VFL game.

Gate 13 will be open from 3:20pm for fans to enter. Patrons will be seated in the Brownlow Stand on Level 1, between bays A28 and A33 for the VFL match.

Where To Watch

All matches in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.

If you are unable to watch the match live, tune into the Cats website and catch up on all the action through the match report.

Geelong’s VFL team mounted a brilliant final quarter comeback against the Casey Demons on Friday afternoon, recording their third consecutive win to start the season. 

A hard fought match against an unforgiving opposition was not enough to stop the Cats momentum, kicking five goals to one in another fourth quarter masterclass at home.

Oli Wiltshire’s presence was felt in his return to the VFL this week, kicking two goals and collecting 23 disposals, while also assisting with nine score involvements to help set his team up.

Jhye Clark also impressed in his return, finishing with a game high 31 disposals, seven clearances and ten score involvements that assisted in sparking the comeback.

Right from the first bounce it was an entertaining match, Oli Wiltshire managed a running goal in the opening minute, followed by Jay Polkinghorne’s fantastic forward effort making his mark with two majors of his own.

The Cats found their composure with the help of Nathan Kreuger and Charlie McCartin, sharing nine marks and four intercepts between them, all while pushing back strong attacks from Casey.

Geelong headed into the second term under some early pressure, before Jhye Clark and Wiltshire started heating up through the midfield, ending the half with 14 disposals each.

An impressive string of handballs through the middle led Tobyn Murray to find his first goal of the game, shortly followed by Jay Rantall with a perfectly placed dribble around the goal square.

Paddy De Grandi was in all the right spots late in the quarter, helping keep the squad within striking distance of Casey’s 11 point lead at the end of the half.

Geelong brought the heat in the third term, with some tough play from Mitch Duncan (21 disposals, eight marks) and Marcus Herbert (26 disposals) who kept the ball down inside forward 50 for a majority of the quarter.

The Cats managed to close the gap on the Demons marginally, thanks to a highlight worthy goal from Hamish Lucas, as well as a goal for speedster Patrick Retschko.

The Cats came out blazing in the fourth quarter against a determined Demons squad, Retschko starting the quarter how he finished the last with a goal to lift the squad.

Geelong were locked in a back and forth contest, with George Stevens (27 disposals) collecting a match best 11 clearances to move the ball forward, and Kye Annand kicking two goals in his first match this season to seal a 16 point victory.

2025 VFL Season - Round Three

GEELONG CATS      3.3      7.7      11.11     16.13    (109) 
CASEY DEMONS     3.5      9.6      13.7      14.9     (93)
 
GOALS 
Geelong Cats: Polkinghorne 3, Wiltshire, Rantall, De Grandi, Retschko, Annand 2, Murray, Lucas, Lewis 1
Casey Demons: Fullarton 5, Johnson 2, Yze, Verrall, Hardie, Edwards, Cross, Billings, Windsor 1

DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Clark 31, Stevens 27, Herbert 26, Wiltshire 23, Duncan 21, Rantall 20
Casey Demons: Howes 25, Hardie 24, Bonner 23, Sestan 22, Laurie, Fullarton 19

@ GMHBA Stadium, Geelong